27th November, 2023
Contrary to insinuations on social media, the management of United Nigeria Airlines has said its flight, NUA 0504 which took off from Lagos to Abuja on Sunday was deliberately diverted to Asaba airport, Delta State because of bad weather.
The management of the airline issued the statement in reaction to insinuations on social media that the pilot flew the plane to Asaba instead of its intended destination by mistake.
There were also claims that the pilot had announced to passengers that he was landing in Abuja airport when the plane was descending instead of the Asaba Airport.
But the airline Head of corporate Communications, Archilleus-Chud Uchegbu, in a statement on Monday said the flight operated from the MM2 was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport because of poor weather in Abuja.
He also blamed the cabin crew for creating confusion among the passengers with the announcement that the plane landed successfully in Abuja instead of Asaba.
But he added that the pilot in command of the flight was aware of the temporary diversion and properly briefed.
He said: “A United Nigeria Airlines flight, NUA 0504, operating from the MM2 in Lagos en route Abuja on Sunday, November 26, 2023, was temporarily diverted to the Asaba International Airport due to poor destination weather.
“At all material time, the Pilot of the aircraft was aware of the temporary diversion and was properly briefed.
“But, a wrong announcement was made by the cabin crew upon landing safely in Asaba, creating confusion among the passengers.
“Meanwhile, the aircraft has landed safely in Abuja following improvement on destination weather. United Nigeria Airlines remains committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers at all times.”